On March 23 local time, Trump attended a roundtable meeting held in Memphis, Tennessee, alongside Hegseth. Trump directly named Defense Secretary Hegseth: "You were the one who first spoke up to go to war with Iran."
Hegseth forced a strained smile on stage.
What appears to be a brief message actually carries multiple layers of Trump’s underlying intentions: by naming Defense Secretary Hegseth during the meeting and calling him the "first person" to express support for military action against Iran, this seemingly casual "praise" has been widely interpreted by the outside world as evidence that, with the conflict now deadlocked, Trump is beginning to regret his decision—and is attempting to shift responsibility for starting the war onto Hegseth.
Let's analyze the deeper meanings behind this statement:
* "Cutting off decision-making responsibility": Trump meticulously described the decision-making process, mentioning he had "called many people," then specifically emphasized that it was Hegseth who said, "Let’s get started." Previously, he claimed Iran’s retaliation was an "unexpected development"—implying that the hasty military strike against Iran was a miscalculation, leading observers to suspect he is already preparing a scapegoat.
* Revealing internal government divisions: Trump acknowledged that Vice President Vance was "not enthusiastic" about war, while media reports have revealed that figures like Secretary of State Rubio also held "doubts." Under such circumstances, publicly singling out the hawkish Hegseth allows Trump to position himself as the ultimate decision-maker who listened to all sides.
* Highlighting current political predicament: The war has now entered its fourth week and has resulted in U.S. military casualties. At this moment, Trump simultaneously announces a pause in bombing and claims he wants to negotiate with Iran—yet openly revisits past calls for war, clearly aiming to divert public frustration over the stalemate.
* After failing to secure a response to a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran, Trump extends the deadline by five more days. If Iran still refuses his ceasefire terms, he warns he will strike Iran’s power infrastructure. This is extreme pressure and intimidation—but also a test, aimed at quickly achieving a ceasefire under pre-set conditions. However, Iran has already seen through Trump’s tactics and publicly denied any talks with the U.S.
What about five days from now? Will he keep playing the same game?
Trump is now extremely awkward—unable to advance or retreat, trapped in a quagmire.
Hegseth studied communications at university and previously worked as a media professional. His sudden appointment as Defense Secretary suggests loyalty—not competence—was the key factor in his selection.
If the Iran issue drags on, it remains uncertain whether Hegseth will remain in his post as Defense Secretary.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1860529125862412/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.